COVID-19 rent grant updates See the latest announcement on the Residential Rent Relief Grant Scheme for current eligibility and application details. Grant funding to be re-purposed to pay 75 per cent of rent arrears to landlords Assistance to prevent evictions at the end of the COVID-19 emergency period To qualify, landlords must offer existing tenants a minimum six month agreement The McGowan...

When it comes to booking holidays or buying presents online, the terms and conditions (t&cs) matter now more than ever. This is because some businesses may now have extra policies in place as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic that could include how they respond to a ‘change of mind’ purchase or booking. Your consumer rights apply if the product or service is faulty or not as...

The average price of regular unleaded petrol (ULP) is set to increase by over 31 cents per litre (cpl) to 136.9 cpl tomorrow, so FuelWatch is encouraging Perth drivers, if they can, to fill up today to save money. FuelWatch advises that on Wednesday 16 December 2020, most branded retailers are hiking their ULP price: 7-Eleven, Caltex/Ampol, Caltex Woolworths and Coles Express hiking by between 43...

A property manager employed by a Mandurah real estate agency has been fined $6,000 and ordered to pay $400 costs by the Mandurah Magistrates Court for taking money from the agency’s trust account for her own purposes. Kylie Jo-Anne Thomas was convicted on 8 December 2020 of making unauthorised withdrawals from the trust account in breach of the Real Estate and Business Agents Act. In August and...

The ACCC has issued a media release urging consumers to check their caravans and recreational vehicles (RVs) for dangerous Surburban branded water heaters which may emit carbon monoxide. A recall was issued in November 2019 for Surburban recreational vehicle water heaters due to their safety hazards. If you have an affected water heater, do not use it in gas mode under any circumstances. For...

In recent years, concerns have been raised regarding incidents resulting from leaked gas due to a known weakness in the current Type 21 ‘POL’ cylinder valve. After considerable consultation, Standards Australia have published AS/NSZ 5601.1:2013 Amendment 4 and AS/NSZ 5601.2:2020 which include a change from the current Type 21 ‘POL’ connection on a LPG cylinder to a new safer leisure cylinder connection (LCC27). The standards refer to this as the Type 27 connection.

Consumer Protection is advising WA holidaymakers to carefully consider the terms and conditions of their travel bookings in relation to cancellations or postponements, with recent border openings expected to spark a travel surge particularly over the Christmas and summer holiday season. Travellers should consider what their options might be if border closures or restrictions are re-imposed before...

An Ellenbrook real estate agency has been reprimanded and fined by the State Administrative Tribunal for employing an unregistered sales representative. HKY Real Estate Pty Ltd was fined $7,000 while the unregistered sales representative Shane David Penny was fined $1,500, in addition to costs of $500 each for breaching the Real Estate and Business Agents Act. Mr Penny held a certificate of...

WA consumers are being warned about an asbestos and demolition operator who is misleading the community, by falsely claiming to hold valid WorkSafe licences which have expired or were once held by companies that have since been liquidated. David Michael Scofield of Applecross, is the registrant of the website www.actionasbestos.com.au which contains a reference to “Class 2 Demolition Licence No...

As the weather warms up, our thoughts are likely turning to summer holidays and the festive season, however it’s important that consumers research their purchases to make sure they are safe and fit for purpose. Faulty products continue to cause serious injury and harm to thousands of Australians every year – in 2017-18, more than 4.5 million faulty or unsafe items were recalled by suppliers. To...

The WA minimum wage and WA award rates of pay are increasing by 1.75% in January 2021. State system employers should get ready now for the increases which take effect from the first pay period on or after 1 January 2021. The WA award summaries and the Minimum pay rates for award free employees on the Wageline website include the rates of pay that apply from 1 July 2020 and the rates of pay that...

The main contractor for the Forrestfield Airport Link Project has been fined $150,000 (and ordered to pay $3,000 in costs) after a worker sustained major electrical burns when a crane made contact with or came too close to high voltage overhead power lines. Salini Australia Pty Ltd pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court last month to failing to provide and maintain a safe work environment...